Possible ascension of Pahang regent as King of Malaysia on the horizon as ailing Pahang Sultan’s abdication appears likely

The ascension of Regent of Pahang Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah as the Sultan of Pahang appears to be on the horizon as the ailing current Sultan has been advised to abdicate the throne.

New Straits Times reported on Wednesday (9 Jan) that a proposal to replace Sultan Ahmad Shah, 88, with his son Tengku Abdullah will be put forth before the Pahang royal household this Friday at Istana Pahang in Malaysia's capital city, Kuala Lumpur.

Tengku Abdullah is scheduled to attend the meeting after returning from London.

Should Tengku Abdullah succeed Sultan Ahmad Shah, it is highly likely that the former will be elected by the Conference of Rulers - comprising the Sultans of nine of the states in Malaysia and the Yang di-Pertua Negeri of four of the remaining states - as the 16th Yang di-Pertuan Agong, of the head of State of Malaysia, based on the rotation system.

A royal source told NST that "The matter (proposal to install Tengku Abdullah as sultan) was submitted by several influential family members and advisers in the royal house. Sultan Ahmad has been informed of the matter", adding that "Tengku Abdullah has been handling state matters in his father’s stead".

"Based on the rotation system, it is Pahang’s turn to be the Yang di-Pertuan Agong after Kelantan. We wish to respect the rotation system," according to the source.

The Pahang constitution stipulates the Sultan must, first and foremost, give consent to relinquish his rights and powers in order for a succession to take place.

A warrant must then be signed and stamped with the state’s seal by the outgoing Sultan as a formal declaration of his abdication, which must be overseen by the Menteri Besar, or the state minister, and the state secretary.

Following that, the warrant will be gazetted, and a declaration will be made to the people of Pahang regarding the abdication of the outgoing Sultan and the subsequent ascension of the successor to the throne.

Following what many Malaysians have branded as a shocking decision on the part of Sultan Muhammad V of Kelantan to abdicate his throne as Yang di-Pertuan Agong on Sunday (6 Jan), the Conference of Rulers have decided to convene a meeting later this month to elect the new King of Malaysia, and for the new king to be sworn in on 31 Jan.

According to the rotation system, the Sultan of Pahang is next in line to ascend the throne as Yang di-Pertuan Agong.